Recent Projects include: Community Conversations – poetry workshops, performances and exhibition for the refugee and asylum seeker community in Portsmouth. Finding the Words – poetry workshops and performance with people living with dementia in Basingstoke (Anvil Arts) Speak Out Poetry Project – workshops for people living with dementia and their carers (Hampshire Cultural Trust) Diving into the Wreck – a live literature production based on the lives of people in recovery from addiction in Portsmouth Penned Up Literature Festival – performance of Zones of Avoidance in HMP Downview followed by Q&A with women prisoners. St James’ Hospital History Project – poetry commission and performance at Portsmouth Central Library A Poem to Remember – poetry workshop on the theme of triumph over adversity (BBC Get Creative and The Poetry Society). I Saw My Voice – writing for well-being workshops and performance at Portsmouth Museum.
Maggie Sawkins
Location of Practice:
Portsmouth, South East, South West
Qualifications:
Ted Hughes Award for New Work in Poetry 2013 for ‘Zones of Avoidance’, MA with distinction in Creative Writing – University College Chichester 2001, BA (Hons) English with Art (2.1) – University College Chichester 1991, City and Guilds Level 5 Diploma in Teaching English in the Life Long Learning Sector Certificate in Education - Portsmouth University 1996, OCN Level 3 – Working Therapeutically with Addictions City and Guilds Certificate in Counselling – Level 2 Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Skills & Interests:
I’m a published poet with twenty years’ experience of teaching students with specific learning difficulties in further education. I now deliver writing workshops and projects in community and healthcare settings. I’m a professional member of the National Association of Writers in Education and hold an MA with distinction in Creative Writing. In recent years I’ve worked with a director on two live literature productions exploring the world of addiction through writing. I live in Portsmouth where I run poetry events for Tongues&Grooves in the Community.